History of TRiO
The TRiO program began with the implementation of Upward Bound. This program
emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the
administration's War on Poverty.
In 1965, Educational
Talent Search was created as part of the Higher Education Act.
In 1968, Student Support Services became the third in a
series of educational opportunity programs.
By the late 1960s, the term "TRiO" was coined to
describe these federal programs. Over the years, the TRiO programs improved to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who
The Higher Education Amendments of 1972 added the fourth
program to the TRiO group by authorizing the Educational Opportunity
Amendments in 1986 created the Ronald E. McNair
Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.
In 1990, the department created the Upward Bound Math/Science
program to address the need for instruction in the fields of math and science.
Finally, the Veterans Upward Bound program serves military veterans in preparing for entry in and completion of a
program of postsecondary education.